GOP ex-Congressman gets it -Congress has utterly FAILED to uphold the Constitution & the rule of law

[kath]

From Glenn Greenwald:

UPDATE: Long-time former GOP Congressman Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma testified before a Senate hearing today on the rule of law and said this:

There are a great many salient questions facing the American people and those of you who are charged with the responsibility of enacting the nation's laws: access to affordable health care; repair of an aging infrastructure; reducing energy dependence; ensuring the national security. But not one of those issues – and not all of them combined – is as important now or for the future as securing our position as a nation governed by the rule of law. . . .

Let me be both candid and clear: the current greatest threat to our system of separated powers and the protections it affords stems not just from executive overreaching but equally from the Congress. America's founders envisioned a system in which each of the branches of government would guard its prerogatives and meet its obligations, each acting to serve the nation through the empowerment the Constitution grants and to protect our liberties through the constraints the Constitution imposes.

For most of the past eight years, and for many years before that, the Congress has failed to lived up to its assigned role as the principal representative of the people. . . .

Here is the challenge, stated as candidly as I can state it. Each year the presidency grows farther beyond the bounds the Constitution permits; each year the Congress fades farther into irrelevance. As it does, the voice of the people is silenced. This cannot be permitted to stand. The Congress is not without power. It can refuse to confirm people the President suggests for important offices; it can refuse to provide money for the carrying out of Executive Branch activities; it can use its subpoena power and its power to hold hearings and above all, it can use its power to write the laws of the country. . . .

Do not let it be said that what the Founders created, you have destroyed. Do not let it be said that on your watch, the Constitution of the United States became not the law of the land but a suggestion. You are not a parliament; you are a Congress -- separate, independent, and equal. And because of that you are the principal means by which the people maintain control of their government. Defend that right, and that obligation, or you lose all purpose in holding these high offices. That is how you preserve and defend the rule of law in the United States.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

More excerpts from Edwards' powerful statement here: http://letters.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/09/16/oversight/permalink/b9e78b5a1c7cb6075c6ba8f6cf0913e2.html


A GOOPer! And from OKLAHOMA, of all places. Egads!...

HELLOOOOOO, Nancy Pelosi, and all other members of the House and Senate -- it's way past time for you to start taking your oaths of office seriously.

[tulsakatz]

1. cool!! Finally!!!

It's good to hear someone in Oklahoma actually make sense!!

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Yeah, and it's the GOP!

Scary.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. K&R and bookmarked. Thank you! n/t

[texpatriot2004]

3. To the Greatest page with you. nm

[kath]

4. Thanks!

I think every member of both houses of Congress should be sent a copy of Edwards' remarks, with a question in very large type attached -- "What are YOU going to do about this? We, the people of the US, want you to start doing your Constitutional duty."

And it took a REPUBLICAN to point out the obvious?! Where the hell are the Democrats???

[Mind_your_head]

5. Wow - my mind feels refreshed ~ and encouraged even ~ with these thoughts!

:applause: Bravo! :applause:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Nictuku]

6. That was Beautiful!!

Thanks for posting.

[noise]

7. It's funny how the GOP

whines about elitism and disrespect for "regular folk" (both talking points intended to suggest that ignorance is a virtue) yet have all but declared that Bush is a king.

It doesn't get more disrespectful for the public than to entrust one man with vast unchecked powers.

[Lugnut]

8. It's about time somebody said it.

Is Nancy listening?

[ProfessorGAC]

11. My Guess Is No

The Professor

[kath]

10. kick for the a.m. crowd

[Solly Mack]

12. Congress went willingly

that's for damn sure

[Vickers]

13. He's not exactly the best guy to be talking about obeying the law...

:eyes:

[tom_paine]

14. Once Upon a Time the word "Republican" was not synonymous with "tyrannical totalitarian"

Now it is. Fully and completely.

[Winterblues]

15. This sentence is the very bottom line

There are a great many salient questions facing the American people and those of you who are charged with the responsibility of enacting the nation's laws: access to affordable health care; repair of an aging infrastructure; reducing energy dependence; ensuring the national security. But not one of those issues – and not all of them combined – is as important now or for the future as securing our position as a nation governed by the rule of law. . . .

If only our Democratic Representatives could understand this most basic concept

[magellan]

17. Absolutely

It's shameful that the Dems are as tone deaf on this as the Repubs.

[Hekate]

16. KnR

[TornadoTN]

18. Stunning & Powerful

Bravo - Bravo Mr. Edwards.